The Dolphins went away quietly into the cold winter night, shut out 28-0 for the first time since 2010 by a franchise which serves as the gold standard of the NFL.

Who really expected the Dolphins to beat the Patriots in New England, especially with the Patriots playing for a first-round bye in the playoffs? It would have taken a perfect game from the Dolphins for that to happen. But Sunday's game wasn't even competitive.

...

When will the Patriots reign end? When will the Dolphins close the gap?

Maybe when Brady retires, or Bill Belichick is inducted into the Hall of Fame.

At this rate, considering the gulf of talent between these two franchises, its hard to envision the Dolphins closing the gap in one offseason, no matter how much cap space ($48.4 million) or draft picks (nine right now) the franchise has.

Yep , the biggest stride the other 3 teams in the division will make is when Brady retires. All these years & none of them have solved the QB position. Kinda pathetic.

_________________2015. Jets & Bills new regimes & no QB. Pats , nowhere to go but down. We come back with best young QB in the game plus we keep the best regime intact. Making of dynasty.

Mon Dec 31, 2012 12:43 pm

Makchell

Phinfever Lead Moderator

Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:04 pmPosts: 7648

Re: Distance between New England and Miami is too wide

Yep , the biggest stride the other 3 teams in the division will make is when Brady retires. All these years & none of them have solved the QB position. Kinda pathetic.

We had our shots to get Brees, Rodgers, or Matt Ryan.

Mon Dec 31, 2012 12:45 pm

FrustratedFinFan

Phinfever Legend

Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2010 12:30 amPosts: 2842

Re: Distance between New England and Miami is too wide

Belicheat and company just know how to coach a team and make a game plan. To beat Brady, you must put him on his butt over and over. Play zone, let them catch short passes and hit them hard.

Your offense does need to score more than zero points though the Patriots defense is not good.

_________________Philbin's countenance exudes confidence!1984 was so long ago...Will there ever be another rainbow?

Mon Dec 31, 2012 12:56 pm

Dphins4me

2014 Survival Champ

Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:23 pmPosts: 5325

Re: Distance between New England and Miami is too wide

Makchell wrote:

We had our shots to get Brees, Rodgers, or Matt Ryan.

Miami would not have done what GB did. Which from what I've read is GB tore him down & rebuilt him in the 3 yrs behind Favre.

Ryan has yet to win a playoff game, so it remains to be seen if he is a QB that can win in the playoffs.

Mon Dec 31, 2012 1:14 pm

wkloiber13

Phinfever Legend

Joined: Sat Apr 17, 2010 5:59 pmPosts: 5117

Re: Distance between New England and Miami is too wide

I think this team has two more years worth of drafting before we're going to be competitive with New England. That is of course assuming that Tannehill develops into the franchise quarterback we drafted him to be, and we have drafted well for a few years.

Mon Dec 31, 2012 1:54 pm

NFLJunkie

Phinfever Blog Writer - Thursdays

Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2010 10:47 amPosts: 6172

Re: Distance between New England and Miami is too wide

Wouldn't you just love ...for just one game....blitz 8-9 guys every play. If you're going to lose...hey got out with some lack of sportsmanship and just really go after him. On offense....just say the heck with it and throw 12 balls each half 20-40yds? Especially in a game like yesterdays where there was nothing on the table. Max protect, 82 fly? If it were me, I would've walked into the lockerroom before the game and said...well outcome be damned, we're swinging for the fence today.